Nephi explained that his brothers murmured because they didn't understand God's dealings. As the Israelites discovered in the wilderness, those dealings include delayed gratification, giving us space to develop faith in Him. We usually associate complaining with discomfort, but a pattern of murmuring represents a retreat to the familiar and an unwillingness to trust God.
Two Coats: Obedience, Loss, and New Beginnings in the Life of Joseph
Joseph lost both his outer garment and his freedom twice. His brothers stripped him of his coat and sold him into slavery. Potiphar's wife used his outer garment to falsely accuse him. But he remained faithful through both trials. Don't let repeated setbacks shake your faith.
Joseph and Nephi
Joseph's brothers resented his dreams foretelling their subservience to him. Laman and Lemuel resented Nephi for the same reason. Their anger reflected their own insecurities. Nephi and Joseph were wise to "heed them not," but to move forward, trusting God.
“I Have Enough, My Brother”
An important element in the happy reunion of Jacob and Esau is their prioritization of the relationship over worldly goods. Both brothers minimized the importance of wealth by saying, "I have enough." Contentment can cultivate gratitude and generosity.
Abraham, Tent-Dweller
Abraham lived in a tent, even though he was in the promised land. The author of Hebrews explained that he lived in a tent because he was looking forward to a permanent home that only God could provide. The tent indicated that he was rooted in God's promises, not in his current circumstances.
Unto a Land That I Will Shew Thee
God consistently invited Abraham to find hope by visualizing a prosperous future. Lehi similarly encouraged his family by focusing on their destination, not on what they had left behind. Discouragement looks backward, but hope faces forward. We make wiser decisions when we pursue meaningful goals instead of merely reacting to unpleasant circumstances.
Commandments and Trust
Noah, Lehi, and Nephi treated God's commandments as sacred trusts. God does not demand flawlessness in all things at all times, but we can show our love for Him by accepting His invitations and assignments and fulfilling them faithfully.
Joseph: He Arose
Joseph received multiple messages from God in dreams. Each time, “he arose” and followed the instructions he received without hesitation or delay. Lehi followed the same pattern, receiving divine messages in dreams and acting promptly. We can also lead our families through uncertainty by seeking and acting upon instructions from God.
Mahaleel and Our Times of Awakening
Doctrine and Covenants 107 reveals that Adam's posterity received the priesthood at widely different ages. We are all on different spiritual timelines. There is no prescribed time to find God. Some find Him early, some later. We can all afford to be patient and hopeful, supporting one another through every phase of our journey.
Of God / Of the Devil
How do we respond to other people's spiritual experiences? A trusted leader told Joseph Smith that his first vision was "of the devil." In contrast, his father told him his vision of the angel Moroni was "of God." The Spirit can help us avoid defensiveness and recognize truth.